Back to School

I’ve always enjoyed provoking my kids. It’s part of the Father’s Bill of Rights. I would ask them if their homework was ready the night before the first day of school. I thought it was funny; they didn’t. Another way I provoked them was to use the word “routine” – “back to the routine”. They hated this word, and still do, I imagine.

So, is routine good or bad ? Probably good, but only to a point. Need to have room for busting out of the routine, being spontaneous, and avoiding a life that’s too comfortable and too predictable.

On the other hand, there is something appealing about settling into a routine or rhythm. Maybe rhythm is a less troublesome word to kids.

The school year, which has just begun in Texas, does establish a sort of rhythm for our lives. Almost everyone in Texas knows where they’ll be on Friday nights in the Fall, that being the local high school football game for those of you from Mars (or New England).

Gladney’s year essentially follows the school year. We are now settling into our Fall rhythm, which includes, among other events, 18 Gladney Family Association kick-offs, board meeting and staff retreat – all designed to set the tone for the year. We’ve got a great year in front of us. I encourage you to choose to be a part of Gladney this year, the rhythm as well as the spontaneity.

Laughter

Laughter IS the best medicine. On Sunday morning, I boarded an early flight. I was tired and probably had a sour expression on my face. Boarding in front of me was a mom with her 2 year old boy. He had the most infectious laugh I have ever heard and he laughed from the time he got on the plane until after he got to his seat.

What was interesting for me was watching the expression change of everyone already seated as this little boy walked past each row. Without exception, everyone’s expression changed from the same sour one I originally had on my face to a big smile or even laughing out loud with him. It was like seeing the impact of a rolling wave.

A nice reminder to me of how laughter can be contagious. This little boy changed the mood of an entire planeload of people in about 5 minutes.

My Job

Someone asked me the other day what I would want to be doing if I didn’t run Gladney. I was stumped.

I have no desire to return to the business world. There is no other job in the non-profit arena that I could be this passionate about.

So I thought some more. Maybe I could teach. But the only subject I am an expert in is Longhorns football and there’s no course in that.

I do have this crazy desire to wander all over the world, especially the remote areas. But that wouldn’t pay too well and I still have 2 kids to get through college.

State politics would be interesting. But I have red positions on blue issues and blue positions on red issues, so I’m probably only electable in a purple state.

So God and the Gladney Board willing, I think I’ll keep doing what I’m doing for a good while. As you may have heard me say, my job and my passion are one and the same, and you can’t be more blessed than that.